Scoreboard for shooting tournaments



Sept. 4, 1923.

C. M. COFFMAN SCOREBOARD FOR SHOOTING TOURNAMENTS Filed April 6,

1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 4, y19.23.

C. M. COFFMAN 4 SCOREBOARD FOR SHOOTINGTOURNAMENTS Filed April 6, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 Inl Inl l i A El i,

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c. M. coFFMAN SCOREBOARD FOR v SHOOTING TOURNAMENTS Filed April 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 T-Z' E sept. 4, 1923. v

c. M. col-FMAN SCOREBOARD FOR SHOOTING TOURNAMENTS Filed April le, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 4, 1923. y UNITED s'rATI-:sv

Application' led. April v6,

To uZZ whom t may concern.' y

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. Cointrin, a citizen ot the United States, residing at (irallipolis, in the county of Gallia. and 'l'Sit-ate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useA ful Improvements in Scoreboards for Shooting Tour1ianients,' of which the followingis a specification. y

The present invention relates'to r improvements in mechanical scorev boards for trap shooting tournaments in which an accuratev recording ot 'the result of each shot may be vdevice susceptible oic being placed in front of the tiring line in tullvieW-of the shooters but which is mechanically operated from a point in rear oi the firing line to avoid any danger of stray'shots to the operator of the device. j

Another object of the invention resides` in providing a score board capable of easy tinnsmi'ttino to and roni the-field, which may be reary ily set up ir. place foroperation and removed to ythe interiorfor better presevation after the tournament; which 'is easily and quickly controlled and forms an accurate record of the inarksnians aim. Other objects of the invention aretoV pro` vide` a relatively inexpensive recording device'ot vthis charactercapable of holding a` large tally sheet adapted to be perforated by series of mechanically controlled punches and being carried by a movable boardalso mechanically driven step by' step'past the punches to bring successively the subdivisions o'f the tally sheet in position before thc punches, the movable boardlbeing so con structed land arranged in combination with the punches as to provide for ease in the placing ot subsequent "tally sheets thereon and in avoidingr interference Afrom the Wind. lith the foregoing and other objects in vieiv;r,the invention will be morel fully .de-

Vscribed hereinafter, andtvill be lIiore par-L Y frame therein;

PTENTLFFICE-#f CHARLES oorriann or sAfLLIroLis,y oHro.

pointed out iii the claims appended out the several views,

-Kfer to like r corresponding parts'throughy Fig. l isa perspective View of an im- Y proved 'score board'constructed according to theple'sent invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a rear 'elevation thereof with parts broken away; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View taken through' the improvedl board for carrying the tally sheet; Y

, Fig. 4L .is a, perspectivey View of a pulley block employed; Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the handles; i

vieweon an enlarge-d scale with parts broken away; s v y Fig. 7 is'an end elevation showing one Aof thev posts and the manner of fitting the Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the device and through the punch mechanism;r

Fig. 9 is an end view vof the opposite vpost showing the rails of the frame therein;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational .i

Fig. l() is an enlarged fragmentary section s of thev removable board showing the spring attaching pins; i Y F ig..l1 is a top plan view of the device Fig. 12 is a pelispectivefview of the gang of punches and analogous parts;

Fig. 13v is a Fig. l5 is a section lthrough the handle Referring moreparticularly to the draw ings, l and 2 designate, respectively,- upper pla-ii viewv of one of the punches Y i Fig. 14 isa side view oi' the same with the punch head shown. iii section; and.V

and lower rails of the substantially rectan y gular open frame in wliich the" movable board 3 tor carrying the tally sheet i is mounted. Bars 5 and 6 connect the ends of the rails '1 and 2 to complete'the rectangi'i-` lar vopen 'raii'iework' and -to reinforce andA strengthen the structure. Thesel end bars 5 s and 6 are set inwardly from the extremities of the rails i and' 2 in order to allow pmA jectingr-ends for ttng in the clipssupport...

ed by the posts 7 and 8 which are driven into the ground a suitable distance and which are spaced widely apart in order to properly receive the ends of the relatively long fra-mework. The'posts are driven into the ground sufficiently to give the entire device a stable foundation and it is intended that the posts shall remain in the ground so that they may be driven there permanently, while the frame is made removable from the posts to enable it to be carried indoors after the turnament where it will not be subjected to the damaging influence of the weather.'

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the ends of the rails 1 and 2 at the lett lie behind the post 7 while at the right, the ends ot these rails are disposed in front oi the post- S. This is important in assembling the score board upon the posts as the board may be simply fitted between the posts and then rotated in afhorizontal direction to cause the ends oit the frame to strike Athe posts which will make it easier to mount the board in place. The post 8, also shown in Fig. 7, is provided with clips 9 and 10 to receive the ends ot the rails 1 and 2, these clips being bent or otherwise formed from the ends of a. piece or strap or other metal 11 which lies alongl the iront face et the post 8 and is secured thereto as by a suitable number ot bolts 12.

In a similar way, the rear Vace ot the opposite post 7, as more clearly appears in Fig. 9, carries a bar 13 secured thereto as by fastenings 14 and providing clips 15 and 16 in position to receive the opposite projecting ends of the frame rails l and 2. The clips are open at their upper ends so that 'the traine may be let downwardly tiereinto without diiculty, and once in place, the weight et the device will insure its remaining rigidly in place. l

New the movable board 3 is equipped to slide horizontally along from right to lett in the rectangular trame and to this end l find it convenient to furnish the rear side oit the board with straps 1'2" and 18 ot metal or other suitable material, as best shown in Fig. 2, the upper ends of these straps being overturned to provide upper clips 19 engaging over the upper rail 1 and forming hangers for the board 3; while the lower ends are bent out and downwardly to provide lower guide clips 2O which engage the rear'face and upper edge of the lower frame rail 2 and also assist to support and direct the board in its progress.

This movable board 3 is constructed with numerous small pertorations 21 for which see Figs. 2 and 3, each perforation adapted to lie behind a subdivision of the tally sheet 4 and in front ot one of the punches as hereinafter more fully referred to. The board is adapted to be closed at its rear by a back plate 22 ot wood or other suitable material held spaced from the rear surface ol? the board by strips 23 and 24 and as shown in Fig. 8, a third strip 25 is made to lie between the upper edge ot the back plate 22 and the board 3 just beneath the upper rail 1. The construction just described terms an enclosed space in rear oi the perforated portion oit the board 3 and prevents the wind from blowing through the perforations and upon the paper tally7 sheet which would tend to drive it outwardly from the board and result in a failure of its sub-divided spaces to register accurately with the peritorations 2l. This enclosed space is however left open and free at the bottom to permit the small particles of paper cut trom the score sheet by the punches to drop therethrough onto the ground.

The score or tally sheet 4 is held upon the board 3 in any suitable manner but preferably by the use oi a number of spring 'tasteners such as shown to advantage in Fig. 10. These spring Yfasteners are, in the preferred form shown, made each of a single length of resilient wire having a terminal end 26 inserted through an edge 01"' the board witl. a shank 27 bent at right angles thereto in order to lie parallel and in contact with such edge of the board. The shank is wound into oneor more convolutions 28, the winding being eiected in a lett-hand direction. After f' completing the convolution or convolutions 28, the wire is carried across the outer sur- Yface of the board forming a bar 29 which engages the margin of the tally sheet 4 and the fastener is adapted to perforate the sheet and for this purpose carries at the free end of the bar 29 a prong- 30 made by .doubling the wire material and carrying it downwardly at right angles to the bar and in such position as to enter a perforation 31 in the board.

y The 'free end of the bar 29 carries an eye or hand-hold 32 formed by looping the other terminal of the wire whereby to admit the finger when lifting the prong out of the perforation 31. The coil 28 exerts a tendency to yieldingly restore this prong 30 to the position shown in Fig. 10. The tally sheet will bear indication marks such as dots made in pencil or ink along its margin to show where the Yfasteners are to enter the paper sheet in order that aproper centering of the tally sheet may be had upon the board, as otherwise the sub-divisions of the tally sheet will not accurately register with the punches.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the board is of such length in comparison with the other parts that the tally sheet 4 may be placed thereon in a substantially flat condition without having to insert it beneath the punches as this often results in folds and tearing in the paper.

The tally sheet 4 is provided with a space above for a heading in which the number ot the event, the number of the squad and the character of the target may be filled in in blank spaces left for this purpose. The

tally 'sheet is ruled off with. vertical and horizontal'intersecting lines .33 and 34 to provide blocks or sm'alfl sub-divisions in suitable columns. In the foremost column at -the left appears the numbers l to- 5 inclusive yarranged vertically and beside spaces Vfor the naines ofthe marksmen or shoot?. ers. Above the sub-.divided part Iof theV sheet is a horizontal `column .containing the-y numbers Il t0f25 and the last-vertical column to the right indicated at 36'is provided for the totals. y w o The boardV with the tally sheet is advanced intermittently or step by step past a series of vertically disposed punches '37. These punches are provided with 'enlarged .heads and with yrelatively elongated :bearings 38 journaled one above the :other upon a vertical rod 39 having a hook 40 at its upper Vend adapted to seat'i'n a'i'perforated ear 4l car-V 43 having its rea-r upwardly-turned end se.

curedas by screws or other fastenings44 to the rear side of the lower frame rail r2. The punch heads, as shown in Fig. `14, are

made with concave operating faces .45 haveV ing sharpened edges 46 `just slightly smaller j than the `perforations 21V in the'board so as to cutout small disks `from the subfdivided spaces on the tally sheet 4. l

1 A smoothing'bar 46 is carried bythe rod 39, the rod being perforated to receive the'- ends 47 and 48 of right angular arms 49 and 50 whichV are bent from` the smoothing y bar 46. This bar and its arms are. made of spring metal in order that it may yieldingly press against the tally sheet 4 and hold kit tightly against the board in the punching operation, loops or Wide bends k5l and 52 being provided inthe arms 49 `and 50 to enhance the resiliency. The plungerheads are Anormally drawn back or retracted `,to a

normally inoperative position bythe use vvof coil springs 53lattached betWeen-thehea-ds and fa bar 54 having bent cnds'55 and 56 also inserted thro-ugh perforations in the rod 39. The bar 54 is so arranged as not toi interfere'with the action of b`a=r`46 or of theplungers. Y l

The plungers are providedwith tail -pieces 57"'for attachment 'to Wires or flexible connections 58 which are coupled to the hand-les 59 by which Y'such punches are guided. As

the .smoothing shown in'Figs.1l and 5, the handles -`59 are formed `withV Shanks 60 and carry-metal angle 6l fixed at one Vend` as by "situated behind or at the 'its other endis pivoted in lnuts 62 tothe Shanks and being perforated as indicated at 63 to receive the ends of the Wires or connections 5.8. In Fig. 15, the shanks 60 are shown as slidingly4 received througha post 64 which,` incidentally, is firing line so as ,t0 enable the handles 59 to be operated Without danger. Wear plates 65 and 66 are secured as by bolts or other fastenings 67 and 68 to `,opposite faces of the post 64, these weer plates' beingalso perforated to receive the Shanks 60 and to avoid any looseness or play occurring ythrough vpremature Wear which would result'if the Woodenposts 64 were not otherwise'reinforced. :The posts 64 may be braced if desired by a diagonal piece 69 as show-n in Fig. il.

I Nowthe'board 3 is advanced intermittently as heretofore stated and at each step it moves a distance corresponding to the tance rbetween adjacent sub-divisions upon the tally sheet 4 in orde-r to bring successive spaces into registry With 'its respective' punch. vF or this purpose, the'board at its lower edge carries a rack bar" 70 `having abrupt vertical Wallsat the right and in nol clined walls at the leftto enable an elongated bar or paivl 71 to slide freelyover the inclined surfaces toward the right but to take atits free end against o tical shoulders or walls when swung to the left. The free'end ofthis pawl rests looselyl the yabrupt ver and by gravity upon the rack bar 70, While aflever 72 fulcrumed at its upper end as indicated at 73 .uponthe crosspiece 6 and being guided-in its movementsk by a. strap 74. The lower end of the lever is coupled to a rope, cordl or other flexible connection 7 5 Which runs parallel with the lrack 70 until it arrives at a point approximately'beneath the Wires `or flexible connections '58 from the punches. Idere the cordv 75 passes abouta pulley 76 held ina pulley block 77 illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4, and having a hanger 78 perforated to receive fastenings by which it is held upon the lower railV 2 or other suitable part 'of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2. vThe flexible cord 75 is carried for- Wardly and is securedby aclip to the shank of a handle 79 similar tothe handles 59 and having a slida'ble .bearing in the post 64.

A.r coil or other .spring 80 is .connected between 'the bar 71 and the cross piece 6 or yother lixed'partto draw the bar down into engagement iwith the rack bar and also to return the lever 72 to the initial position shown in Fig. 1. After each `subsequent operation of the cord V75Y therefore, the bar and its Vlever yvvillbe restoredfto an initial -or origin position by the spring and Will be placed in readiness for the next actuation.

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then the bar 71 is li'fted from engagement with the rack 70 and laid aside in the rest Sl provided tor that purpose inthe positions shown in Figs. l and 6, and the handle .89. is `grasped and the board pulled to the right without interference 'from thc bar and the abrupt shoulders of the rack bar.

ln the use el' the device. it will be seen that the same provides 'tor a twenty-live target event. (.)i course, a di'l'lerent ar rangement might be vmade in which av smaller number of 'targets constitute an event, for instance in a one hundred. and titty target program there would be ten .l5 target or six targret events. rthe program may have any number oit targets divided into events of l0, l5, nl), 2o or more targets in each event.

The tally sheet as shown rovides tor one squad of live marlismen or shooters. A substitute tally sheet Will be provided upon the board i3 ter each additional squad the numbers or' squads being regi-uint ed only by the number ot shooters present at the l1 ur-- nament. .Llach shooter is designated by a number which appears in the-extreme lettfvertical column et the tal sheetl and his name is also placed in the vertical column 5 at the side oi his number. Tfhen the tournament opens, the lirst squad comes to the traps or to position on the tiring` line and the scoring; device is in the position shown in Fie: l. Shooter No. l then aims at the target and tires and afterV the result of his shot has been announced, the score Vkeeper records it in the first sub-divider space uinlcr the number l. Should the i'irst shooter have reached his target. then the score l;

will pull upon the uppermost handle and cause the topinost punch 3T to per-'torete the tally sheet tif in the subldivided space re lerred to. The milling upon the handle will also draw upon the upper 'lexible connection 5S causing the punch to swineupon its extended bearing upon the rod and resulting` in its cutting edge cle:wingv out a round dish :trom the score she Vt which is deposited by the punchin the enclosed spa .c back oit the. board where it .may fall to the ground. In executing this action7 the respective spring 53 is en 'ended so that when the handle 59 is subsequently released, thisv springwvill restore the parts to the initial position.

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ln like manner, shooter No. 2 then lires at the tarn-et and his aim is record/edili true by the second punch Yfrom the top. Il he misses the target, no punch mark is made. ln like manner shooters Nos. 3, et and 5 taire their turn and the accuracy o'l their aim is recorded by the punches arranged opposite their name. After all five have tired at the target, the beard 3 is advancedone step in order to bring column number 2 into registry with the gang or punches. This is accomplished by the score keeper pulling4 upon the lovJermost handle 79. As previously described this will actuate the lever 72 and bar 7i, which7 through engagement with the racli Tl), Wi .l advance the board ay distance equal to the distance between the sub-divided spa on the tally sheet. The spring will then return these parts to initial position, the Ytree end oli` the bar 7l riding over'the inclined Walls et the rack teeth. The mark men or shooters thc-n change positions and talie their turns at shooting' at the second target, and their aim is recorded as hcretoit re by the per'ioratcd punch mark or the lack o'l it. This routine is gone through until the squad has had an opportunity to shoot at all trventyive t: gets, whereupon this squad retires to Way to squad No. Q.

The board is then restored to the initial position shown in Fig. l by disengaging thc bar 7l and manually pulling; the board back to its `original position. Tl e score sheet i is then removed and replaced with a Yfresh sheet containing` the names ol the second squad.. The coin'luctineol the shooting` is the same as describe( for squad No. l, and subsequent squads taking;` their turn are acquainted immediately with the result ol' their marksmanship by the tact that the board is in 'full view in trent ott the liri'i'ip` line. The-board thereliore shows at a 2glance just 'wha' their score is.

rfhe squads thus traite their turn until the program is completed.

lt will. be appreciated Yfrom the foregoing that the improved score board provides for the accurate recording mechanically oi each shooter`sv aim and success or 'failure and it keeps his record betere each marltsinan or shooter and 'terms a permanent inell'aceable record upon `the tally sheet made at the time thercsult ot each shot is armonnced.

lt will further more be appreciated that the improved scoreboard is simple in operation andalso actuated from a point behind the iiring line without danger to the operator and with a great deal oit ease and more promptly than records are non' mace.

inasmuch the stainlard Gil subjected to little strain, 'the brace GS) may not be necessary but it Will be understoodthat braces may be provided wherever needeCL and particularly Vbeneath the center et the frame or board at approximately the position occupied by the punches, It is also to be understood that' the misses of the marksn'ien may be recorded by punching.r the tally sheet and the hits may go unpunched as either this or the manner el use previously described Would give the same result in recording the performance of each of the marlsmen or shooters.

lt is obvious that various changes and modiiieations may be made in the details of sa en a. board for holding the scoresheet-mounted substantially vertically and yfor approxi-Y mately horizontal movementfin said supporting frame, a vertical series of punches mounted in front of the horizontal subdivisions on the score sheet, individual means connected separately to said punchesv and extending behind the firing line, and means separate and distinct from saidlast named `means and also having anV operating device extending behind the firing line whereby to n advance said board the distance of one of the vertical subdivisions on the score sheets at each actuation. l

2. A mechanical score board for trap shooting tournaments comprising a framework set up in front of the vfiring line and composed. in part of upper and lowerspaced apart rails, a board having straps to slidably support it upon said rails, said board adapted to receive a score sheet subdivided both vertically and horizontally, a vertical series of punches stationarilymounted in front of said board, means to operate the punches separately of one anotherfrom a point back of the firing line, a rack bar having inclined teeth extending along the lower edge of said board, an elongated pawl having its free end resting upon said teeth, and means at one side of the framework forsupporting and actuating said pawl, said actuating means being operable from a point behind thefring line. i

3. A mechanical score board for trap shooting tournaments comprising a supporting framework, a board for holdinga score sheet standing approximatelyvertically and mounted in said framework forV approximately horizontal travel, punches in front of said board, operating means for the punches, an elongated rack having inclined teeth extending along the lower edge of said board and being affixed thereto and extendy ing from the major portion kof the boards length, a lever securedto one end of the framework, an VVelongated pawl pivoted to the lever and having its free Aend adapted to rest vrupon the `inclined `teeth' ofk said rack,

kmeans extending behind the firing line for oscillating said lever.

P 4t. A, mechanical score board for trap shooting tournaments comprising a pair of posts erected out of alignment andhaving supportingv clips extending from mutually opposite faces, a framework having protruding ends adapted to slip down into said i clips, a board for holding a score sheet car'- ried by said framework and having horizontal movement thereon, a gang of vertically disposed punches staticnarily carried in f frontof said boardmeans for individually actuating the punches, and means for moving the board intermittently.

5. A mechanical score board for trap shooting tournaments comprising a framework, a board adapted to travel across said framework, a rod suspended in front of said board, punches pivoted' on said rod, means lfor individually moving the punches, aY

smoothing bar adapted to extend close to said punches andto the board and having yieldable support from said rod, a second bar held by said rod in rear of the punches, and spring means between the punches and said second bar. v p In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES M. COFFMAN. 

